29.11.2023

Frank Peters receives SFI Industry Partnership Award 2023

We are delighted to congratulate our colleague Prof. Frank Peters on receipt of SFI Industry Partnership Award 2023.  This is in recognition of his work with IPIC in partnership with Rockley Photonics, University College Cork & Tyndall National Institute. Frank has been working  in photonic research for over 30 years, he has filed over 80 patents. He has been part of three start-ups including, most recently, Rockley Photonics and the creation of the Irish research division of Rockley.  On the award Frank responded “I am delighted to receive the SFI Industry Partnership Award. None of this would have been possible without the outstanding IPIC team at Tyndall, who provided the support, encouragement and hard work required to enable the research and development projects – thank you to David McGovern, Patrick Morrissey, Ann Heffernan, Anna Kaar, Paul Townsend (IPIC), and Anthony Morrissey (UCC Innovation). Thanks to Rockley Photonics and the wonderful research partnership with them. I am also thankful to the School of Physics, and SEFS for providing the flexibility to let me spend extended time working with industry.” 

17.11.2023
29.09.2023
29.09.2023
29.09.2023
29.06.2023

IPIC All Centre Day – The Power of Open Networks

Recently IPIC gathered members from across all institutions; Tyndall National Institute, Munster Technological University, Dublin City University, National University of Ireland Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork and University of Limerick.  We workshopped the following topics: –

  • Research Integrity
  • Education and Public Engagement
  • Entrepreneurship / critical thinking
  • Career Development
  • Teamwork – the power of open networks

We had 120 staff and students in attendance, working together on the above topics assessing where we are with these, identifying any gaps and planning for how we grow and evolve moving forward in addressing today and tomorrow’s grand societal challenges.  We also had time for a poster session, networking and opportunity to meet new faces and those we had only met on screen due to the past years of covid.  The day was a great success.  As a centre we have achieved a lot, but still a lot more to do.

For further information reach out to the team at info@ipic.ie

08.06.2023

Paper in top 3 IEEE Photonics Technology

Paper III-V-on-Si DFB Laser With Co-Integrated Power Amplifier Realized Using Micro-Transfer Printing published by IEEE is currently in the top 3 downloaded in IEEE Photonics Technology letters this year.   This work was supported in part by both the European Union and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).   Credit goes to a number of Researchers, including IPIC’s own Brian Corbett and Emanuele Pelucchi.  Follow this link to read the paper.

17.09.2022

FAME – First International Workshop on Fundamentals and Advances of MOVPE processes

The first edition of FAME (2023) – First International Workshop on Fundamentals and Advances of MOVPE processes will be held in Cork (Ireland) on July the 13-14th 2023.

For the epitaxy community this workshop will focus on the fundamental processes in MOVPE (and other close enough epitaxial techniques). Motivation being to stimulate debate in the community about the physical processes’ unknowns which need deeper understanding to advance our research field(s).   In this sense the workshop aims to be a hardcore epitaxial forum, merging growth, theory and characterization, and focusing more on “why something is possible” than on the devices that are made possible, which remain, unquestionably, a strong motivating avenue.
The workshop will be structured with approximately 20 invited talks delivered by senior researchers and experts over two days. The aim is to have an informal but vibrant discussion forum, capable of stimulating ideas and dialogue between experts in the field, concentrating on the specifics of the “science” and less on the application overview aspects.
There are no fees associated to this event. The organizing committee will arrange and cover lunches, coffee breaks and social events (workshop dinner), but will not be in the position to cover accommodation and travel.

Invited Speakers

1 Christophe Durand – CEA
2 Andre Strittmatter – Magdeburg University
3 Dimitri Vvedensky – Imperial College
4 Erik Bakkers – Eindhoven Tech. Univ.
5 Menno Kappers – Cambridge University
6 Bernardette Kunert – IMEC
7 Michael Jetter – Stuttgart Univ.
8 Heinz Schmid – IBM Zurich
9 Arnab Bhattacharya – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
10 Emanuele Pelucchi – Tyndall National Institute
11 Lucia Sorba – CNR Pisa
12 Elisa M Sala – Sheffield University
13 Elizaveta Semenova – Technical University of Denmark
14 Peter Parbrook – Tyndall/UCC
15 Francesco Montalenti – University of Milano-Bicocca
16 Laetitia Vincent – University Paris-Saclay
17 Blandine Alloing – CNRS-CRHEA Valbonne
18 Hannah J. Joyce – Cambridge University
19 Michael Nolan – Tyndall National Institute
20 Wouter Peeters – Eindhoven Tech. Univ.
21 Pietro Pampili – Tyndall National Institute

To register your seat please follow this link

For schedule see FAME_Programme_final

The organising committee are:
Emanuele Pelucchi, Peter Parbrook, Michael Jetter, Erik Bakkers, Christophe Durand

02.02.2023

IPIC attend Photonics West 2023

IPIC host the Photonics Ireland Pavilion at the SPIE BiOS and Photonics West conference & exhibition 2023. This event is attracting thousands of attendees keen to engage with industry partners and technologists, with over 1100 exhibiting companies.   You will find Photonics Ireland Pavillion at booth 4645.  We have a strong representation from Ireland across Tyndall, IPIC and industry colleagues from BioPixS; Eblana Photonics; mBryonics; Pilot Photonics; X-Celeprint and iSLight.

Many of our colleagues have also presented papers at the conference, below are members of the Biophotonics team.

Please reach out if you’d like any further information info@ipic.ie 

13.01.2023

Explorer Pre-Accelerator Programme now accepting applications for 2023

We are happy to announce that the Explorer Pre-Accelerator Programme is now accepting applications for 2023!

Explorer 2023 has been launched as a collaboration between the Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC) with Tyndall, international high-tech photonics ams OSRAM, Confirm SFI Research Centre for Smart Manufacturing, CONNECT Centre and with support from Atlantic Bridge, Intel Corporation, IPCEI, MIDAS Ireland, NovaUCD and Science Foundation Ireland.

We are looking for impressive ideas at an early stage that seek to make a real difference and address the societal and environmental changes that we face today. Up to 8 ideas will be selected to participate on fifteen half-day workshop sessions, culminating in a programme showcase.

Applications close on January 23rd.

Find out more: https://www.tyndall.ie/explorer

07.12.2022

Photonics100: listed IPIC’s Prof Liam Barry and Dr Frank Smyth of Pilot Photonics

Electro-Optics Magazine recently launched the inaugural Photonics100 list of the most innovative people in Photonics, we are delighted to see Prof. Liam Barry from IPIC@DCU and Dr. Frank Smyth from Pilot Photonics, an IPIC Industry Partner included in the list. This listing honours those that are the driving force behind the evolution of photonics technologies.

The team in DCU has been developing innovative comb laser technologies for almost two decades. These technologies played a key role in the formation of Pilot Photonics in 2011 and the company has now developed miniaturized comb lasers based on photonic integration that it is using to target high growth, mass markets. “Our journey towards the photonic integration of our technology started through a series of meetings and early projects with IPIC researchers back in 2014. Unlike most comb lasers our technology is well suited to monolithic photonic integration which means that single-chip PICs enhanced with comb laser capabilities can be mass produced at wafer scale today. This opens up large opportunities in the telecoms, satellite comms, and aerospace markets.” commented Dr. Smyth, CTO at Pilot Photonics.

The research teams in DCU and Pilot continue to innovate collaboratively in the comb laser space and are now focused on energy efficient data centres and satellite communication technologies through an IPIC targeted project, a Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund project, and an EU Training Network Programme.

Commenting on the inaugural Photonics100 list, Prof. Barry from IPIC@DCU noted that “the inclusion of Irish based researchers is clear evidence of the innovative work being carried out in Photonics in Ireland, and puts the country in a strong position to benefit both socially and economically from the growth in the photonics sector over the coming decades”.

Useful links:

Dr Frank Smith and Pilot Photonics

Prof Liam Barry

Electro Optics

 

05.12.2022

IPIC research aligns to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

IPIC’s, David McGovern (SDG Champion) has been working with our Researchers to assist in mapping our research to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.   The 17 goals are a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015.   IPIC research is currently impacting goals SDG 3-Good Health & Well-being; SDG7-Affordable & Clean Energy and SDG 9-Industry Innovation & Infrastructure.   There is also good progress being made to tackle SDG6-Clean Water & Sanitation; SDG12-Responsible Consumption & Production and SDG8-Decent Work & Economic Growth.

To discover more, see UCC’s activities here and the UN’s site here.

Should you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@ipic.ie

05.12.2022

Funding success in Europe for early stage researchers in Tyndall

IPIC, is pleased to announce the participation of two of its early stage researchers in 2 newly started Horizon Europe projects. The Lolipop project with Tyndall lead Dr Padraic Morrissey from the Photonics Packaging group will deal with the integration of Lithium Niobate (LiNB) on Insulator (LNoI) and Silicon Nitride as a hybrid but disruptive platform, to take advantage of the excellent electro-optical properties of LiNb. This disruptive platform will offer the highest integration, modulation and second order nonlinear performance in the entire spectrum from 400 up to 1600 nm, based on the combination of the LNOI and the silicon-nitride technology. As the global market of bulk LN modulators is huge, significant impact can be expected due to the integration of the two complementary material systems.

Dr Morrissey commented “Our main role is in the design and optimization of micro transfer printing for the transfer of LNOI films onto a TriPlex platform, which will enable a dramatic miniaturization of the device footprint”

The Lolipop project is coordinated by the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems in Greece and runs from September 2022 to February 2026.

The Phormic project, with leads Dr Padraic Morrissey from the Photonics Packaging group and Dr Cleitus Antony from the Photonic Systems Group, will establish a European platform for next-generation programmable photonic chips with a low adoption threshold for product developers in diverse application domains. e.g. in data center communication, sensing and mm-wave wireless beamforming.

Dr Antony stated, “Control electronics is an essential part of the architecture to realise a multipurpose photonic processor. We will develop the electronic interface and digital control circuits to tune hundreds of programmable photonic elements on a single chip.”

The project is coordinated by IMEC in Belgium and runs from October 2022 to March 2026. The proposed multipurpose programmable photonic processors will accelerate photonic prototyping, will be cost-effective for low-volume products, and will provide a low-barrier entry point for photonics innovators, including SMEs. The platform will provide opportunities for the integration of on-chip tuneable lasers with large spectral coverage, increased functionality of photonic circuits, due to lower power consumption and therefore enable the adoption and innovation of research-oriented photonic chips. This acceleration of development could have a significant impact on the use of photonics across European industry, including reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions thanks to e.g. fibre-optic links and environmental and industrial sensors. Both groups have received over 1M€ in total funding to fulfil their roles in these projects.

Martin O’Connell, Head of EU Programmes in IPIC, welcomed the award stating “The participation of both Drs Morrissey and Antony is testament to our efforts in developing the next generation of future research leaders and is thus aligned with our Tyndall 2025 strategy”

18.10.2022

UCC scientist becomes first Irish person to win major US physics award

A warm congratulations to our esteemed colleague Prof Séamus Davis for his fantastic achievement of becoming the first Irish recipient of the prestigious Buckley Physics Prize for his work in the field of quantum physics, to read more follow this link to UCC article. You can listen to Prof Davis on our episode “Quantum Worlds” as part of our IPIC Podcast series “A Little Light Listening”.  There you will also find other episodes covering the exciting world of photonics.

07.10.2022